All I really want is sleep.

Our schedule and routine is so off right now I can hardly stand it. The week before we moved Kiah decided that she doesn't need naps anymore. Well the truth is... she does need a nap... it usually just happens at the wrong time. She is out in a second whenever we get in the car. This is not helpful when going grocery shopping etc. But it is really nice on the way home from swimming lessons :) She usually zonks out on us around dinner time (like today... the very last photo). This has happened so many times! The day we moved I was trying to get Kiah dressed so we could go return the moving truck. She pouted instead... just long enough to fall sound asleep on the couch (below) with her back pack.

The hardest part about having no naps? No free time at all. If she does nap it is in the car or during dinner. Then she is up all night when I should be getting other things done... or relaxing :) The past two days the kids actually got to bed before 9 pm which was amazing. I can't wait to get on a routine again... any routine would be great, even if it was different from before. I am day dreaming about this past winter when my kids were in bed by 7... those were the days!

On top of Kiah's bad sleeping schedule Evan is having a hard time with all the changes we've had. Everyday this past week has been a battle. I feel like my sweet little boy disappeared and I have no control at all. I really hope people understand and know that this isn't normal... though I really don't care what people think, I just want my sweet Evan back. He just seems so angry all the time. Hopefully things will get better soon.

(Evan insisted on sleeping in the baby rocker...)

This really can't be that comfortable...

Last night Evan and Kiah both slept on the floor in their sleeping bags (I was tempted to take a picture, but didn't). Kiah only made it part way through the night... she usually ends up hogging my side of the bed from about 2-7 am. Life as a mom is just great, isn't it?

(I hope I don't sound whiny. I love my kids to pieces... life just gets crazy and I feel so bad that they don't understand as well as adults do. If you want to read a happier post scroll down to Kiah's birthday post or just enjoy the cute sleepy photos :)) 

Happy Birthday Makiah!

The week of Kiah's birthday was super crazy after our move. Even though we were all so tired I am so glad we decided to have a small party. Birthdays are just not the same without some friends and family. We had so much fun!

(Brielle, Joseph, Kiah, Evan, and Carly)

I love the look on Evan's face below. So serious... at least he didn't blow out the candle for her!

(Notice Kiah wearing boots under her sun dress... She picked out the outfit herself :))

We bought this slide as her gift and the kids sure love it! They immediately put it in the pool... now we just need a bigger pool :)

Kiah got tons of art supplies from her grandma and grandpa (which has been a lifesaver this past week, thanks!) She also got a new sleeping bag, nail polish and some movies from them. 

Birthdays are the best, I felt like we celebrated Kiah's all week long. The day we moved in Evan said "It's Kiah's Birthday! She is two now!" because I told him it would be her birthday after we moved. Everyday until her birthday he thought it was her day :) Kiah learned to say  "Happy Birthday" and she would even try and sing the song. She loved all her gifts and names the friends and family that gave them to her. She is talking so much lately, of course it's hard for me to believe she is two. So much has happened these past two years.

Just a quick slideshow...

Here are some photos of our new home. We love it here! Some of the things that I am just loving are: our garage, dishwasher, not having the washer and dryer in the kitchen, my bedroom :) I love my room! Master bathroom and walk in closet, the kids big room/playroom, vaulted ceilings, big back yard, quiet neighborhood.... the list could go on and on :) I do need to do some major decorating and I already have some ideas. I just need some more inspiration, money and time :) Soon enough I'll have pictures on the walls. 

I do need some help with this wall...

Any ideas? I am clueless. It is way too big for what I have now and I am willing to invest in something or somethings to put on it. I love the quote that is in this room  (the big black board with the quote on it) but I'd use a different quote... I just like the idea in general. Would it work for this room? I could do it in any color, size, shape, etc. I am also planning to get family portrats done and I would love to get some LARGE prints :) That would be nice for this big wall. Any other ideas that you might have would be great!

I just love...

...our new little home! We have all enjoyed it so very much. It's almost been two weeks since we've moved in and we are all settled and enjoying life. When we decided to live in this neighborhood I was a little disappointed with the lack of trees. It doesn't bother me so much now. We have some amazing views of the sky and I have enjoyed all the beautiful sunsets we've been having.  Oh and all the stars at night... it feels like forever since I've enjoyed looking at the stars. Anyway... here are some views for you from my back porch...

There is a pond a short distance from our backyard.... Evan loves it... Kiah hates it... I like having a place to walk with the kids :) It's also very nice to have so much space in our backyard! I love it. The kids have enjoyed swimming in their pool just about every other day.

I am hoping to take some photos my house tomorrow... I can't wait to share. Also, I need to post photos from Kiah's Birthday... and swimming lessons. I am a slacker and I must get all caught up!

One of those things that is just bound to happen.

Remember how cute Kiah's piggies are were getting? Adorable. 

I was planning on taking Kiah to get her hair cut... but I didn't want to cut her piggies.... just a little off the bottom, a little trim. Those piggies were just getting to long and cute. Well Evan, dear Evan. had different plans.

He decided that that little piggy was just too tempting and he cut it off (can you tell she is looking a little lopsided?).

Goodbye piggy.

(Naturally, as a blogging mommy I documented the whole experience just to make it more enjoyable for you :))

Thanks a lot Evan. I love my three year old, I really do. But what has gotten into him this past week?? It's been craziness around here I tell you, craziness.

Kiah fell asleep on the way to Cookie Cutters and so she was a grump getting her hair done. Thank goodness for that little red car.

This was her expression through the whole thing. I believe she was thinking "I'd rather be sleeping."

I have to admit she looks pretty darn cute with those short little piggies. 

We've Moved!

We moved to a new rental last Saturday :) So far we are loving it. It was certainly a long week (or longer I guess) of packing, cleaning, moving, unpacking and now we are finally settled. We don't have internet yet so no pictures yet. I get to hang out at the library for now. We were supposed to have our internet up yesterday but you know how that goes... after a few phone calls (and more to come) we are getting things worked out. Apparently the first person I talked to about our address change never processed our order... now we get to wait till Monday. Oh well, I guess it is good for me... I haven't had time for blogging anyway. So if any of you need to get a hold of me call instead of email... it might be awhile till I can reply!

Tomorrow we get to celebrate Kiah's 2nd birthday :) She is really excited and she loves her "Happy Birthday" banner I put up. She tries to sing the Happy Birthday song... but then Evan cuts her off. He is in desperate need for attention right now. My kids have been quite the pair this past week.... more on that later....

The 4th... and a ton of pictures...

We headed downtown for the 4th of July festivities.... it was a really, really, hot and humid evening. At least there wasn't any rain like last year. The kids were pretty cranky all weekend long but they did pretty well staying up way too late (let me rephrase that... Kiah was cranky all weekend long. I really don't know what to do with her...). We had a good time.... I am so glad we decided to go even though we had to keep the kids up late.

Yeay for tripods :) 

*Smile* I love this!

... and this... 

... Oh and this too :)

For those of you who missed fireworks this year here is a glimpse at what we saw...

I have a lot to learn about shooting fireworks (with a camera:)). Evan loved the show and could have stayed up watching fireworks all night. Kiah was a little scared and she clung to me the whole time. She didn't even want to see them. At least she didn't cry. We had a fun and tiring weekend... how was your holiday?

More blueberries

I posted my favorite blueberry picking photos on my photo blog.... this one is my favorite :)

I have been wanting to buy some Photoshop templates like these so I can make some collages like the one above. Since I didn't want to fork over the money I found this tutorial instead. Now I can make my own templates :) I have had way too much fun with these! I wish I had more time on my hands so I can sit here and make one after the other. I have a feeling that I am never going to get sick of photography and photoshop and that's okay with me :)